Essex police launch double-murder inquiry

Police had been aware of a man suspected of shooting dead a mother and child
for two years, it has emerged.

5:58PM BST 06 Jun 2011

A senior police officer said a "number of incidents" involving both the suspect and the victim, Christine Chambers, 38, had been reported to Essex Police.

Officers found the bodies of Ms Chambers, known by friends as Chrissie, and her two-year-old daughter Shania, at their home in Bartram Avenue, Braintree, Essex, early this morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, head of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said Ms Chambers' other daughter, aged 10, was able to flee the scene and alert family members who called police.

At a press conference in Braintree Town Hall, Mr Beautridge said a 50-year-old man was under guard in hospital after the shootings.

Mr Beautridge said: "All people in this incident are known to each other."

He continued: "There have been an number of incidents where contact between the man in custody and Chrissie Chambers have been referred to Essex Police over the course of the last two years."

Mr Beautridge said Essex Police had referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and there will be a "full and fundamental review of the circumstances surrounding this contact in order to ensure there is total transparency".

He is undergoing treatment for shot gun injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.